Thomas Rhett Releases Seventh Studio Album, ‘About A Woman’

Thomas Rhett

One of the conundrums that singer/songwriters face is “Do you write songs for the radio or songs that are personal and meaningful?” It is often tricky to do both simultaneously, but Thomas Rhett Akins can do it, and he is one of the best in the business. He relies on anecdotes from his personal life and family to provide heart-pumping, danceable tunes that make him a favorite on country radio.

His main muse in songwriting is naturally his beautiful wife, Lauren, along with their four precious daughters. Songs like the massive number one “Die A Happy Man,” “Star of the Show,” “Unforgettable,” and “Look What God Gave Her” are just a fraction of the hits he has written about his wife.

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Music Spotlight: Conner Smith

One thing that I have learned by writing this column is that the country music that young people like (who are the biggest consumers of digital music) is not always the same as the music that I like.

But sometimes artists can bridge that gap. Twenty-two-year-old Conner Smith is such an artist. I know exactly why he is so popular with the younger set. But it was his writing ability that impressed me most. He is a gifted songwriter. He has been writing songs since age six. He scored his first publishing deal at age 16. Not only that, I also learned that he was born in the same town in East Tennessee where my children were born, Cleveland.

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Chris Janson Releases ‘All I Need Is You’

NASHVILLE, Tennessee- Before I got the email, I thought it was about time for some new Chris Janson music because it had been a few years since he put new music out. Fueled by Mountain Dew®, Janson’s high-octane show puts this human hummingbird right at the top of my all-time favorite live performers.

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Music Spotlight: Mackenzie Carpenter

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Those who follow my column know I find a lot of my new artists from the Song Suffragettes or SiriusXM’s The Highway. On The Highway, They feature new artists who are often named as their “Highway Finds.” And while I’m not always crazy about every new musician they feature, when I heard Mackenzie Carpenter’s “Can’t Nobody” a few months back, it was love at first listen.

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